FA PREMIERSHIP: A police officer has been sacked after arranging for a friend to take a fitness test for him so he could qualify as an FA referee.

Pc Gary Bretherick, of Lancashire Police, was dismissed after being found guilty of two breaches of the force's code of conduct.

It is believed that Bretherick, who worked in the seaside town of St Anne's, had to take the fitness test to be eligible to referee in the Unibond League.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman said: "An officer was dealt with by a misconduct hearing on December 6th in respect of two breaches of the code of conduct alleging that he had arranged for another person to take a fitness test for him to qualify as an FA referee." The spokeswoman said Bretherick then attempted to persuade the person who had impersonated him to withdraw evidence given to the FA.

She added: "The officer was found guilty on both counts and dismissed from the service." It is believed the deception was spotted by an FA official.